Improvement in treadles



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE BYRON KIRKHAM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN TREADLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 113.776, dated April 18, 1871.

' cient to enable one skilled in the art to which the invention appertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in Which- Figure 1 represents a general view, in perspective, of theimprovement. Fig. 2 shows a slight modification, and also an enlarged view of the invention. Fig. 3 gives an enlarged view ofthepawl; and Fig.4shows more plainly the pressure-pin, friction-rubber, and spring connected therewith.

This improvement is designed to facilitate the working of sewing-machines, hand-lathes, Sto., by enabling the operator always to start the fly-wheel or driving-Wheel in the right direction by simply puttin gthefeet on the treadle and pressing down; also, to produce a rapid revolution of the ily-wheel by a slow motion of the foot.

In Fig. 1, A represents the {1y-wheel or driv' ing-wheel. B is theratchet-wheel, connected with it and forming part of it, and C is the friction-bearing, against which the pawl presses. D is the spool, which plays freely on the same axle Gr that the y-wheel runs on. This spool D has an arm, E, to which is pivoted the pawl F. This pawl F works freely on the pivot in and out of the cogs of the ratchet-wheel B. The spool D is turned by the belt H andtreadle I, the spring J lifting the treadle. It is evident that when the spool D, with its arm E, is turned in a direction contary to that indicated by the arrow the pawl F would slide freely over the cogs of the ratchet-wheel B 5 but when the spool D is turned in the direction of the arrow the pawl will catch behind one of the cogs and impel the iy-wheel forward. 0f

course if the pawl was pressed against the cogs of the ratchet-wheel by a spring it would make an unbearable racket in sliding over them 5 but one object of this invention is to prevent that noise and make the Whole work positively and yet silently. The action of the pawl F is effected by means of a friction-bearingof a novel construction. (Shown plainly in Figs. 3 and 4.) A hole is made through the pawl F, and in this is inserted a bar or pin, L, with a head to it to press against the friction-bearing M, made of leather, rubber, or any suitable sul stance. This friction-bearing M is fastened securely to the pawl F, and is pressed outward against the friction-surfaces C, Figs. 1 and 2, by the spring N, which acts on the pin or bar L. In Fig. 2 a flat springis indicated, and in Figs. 3 and 4 aspiral spring; but the form of the spring is immaterial. A little pin, I?, is set in the pawl so as to strike against the pin in the arm E and prevent the pawl from go ing back too far-that is, from rising so high from the cogs that when the arm E Was driven forward the pawl would swing round the Wrong way and not engage the cogs at all. A cushion, O, of leather, rubber, or similar substance, is fastened on the pawl F, to prevent the sharp click when the pawl strikes the cogs of the ratchet-Wheel.

Figs. 1 and 2 present modifications of the ratchet-wheel. In Fig. 1 the faces of the cogs are vertical to the plane of the fly-wheel and the bearingsurface identical with it, while in Fig. 2 the faces of the cogs are identical with the plane of the fly-wheel and the bearingsurface C vertical to it. In Fig. 2 the spool I) is shown with a spiral groove cut around it to prevent the belt H from working to one end or the other of it. This arrangement of the belt, spool, and treadle differs from a previous patent of mine on the same subject of footpower for sewing-machines, hand-lathes, Sto., for in my previous invention the belt was passed around a plain grooved wheel once and pulled taut by a spring attached to the front of the treadle; but in this invention the belt is intended to be wound round the spool several times in a spiral groove, and by its superior cohesion a much smaller wheel or spool can be used,and thusby one stroke of a treadle of the usual length the y-Wheel can be driven around several times, which thus saves a great deal of labor. Furthermore, the spring J is not 2. The accessories to the paWl F, the pin L, spring N, and bearings M and O, for the purpose set forth.

GEO. BYRON KIRKHAM.

Witnesses H. M. PAIN, G. C. SPENCER. 

